Interview 1: Mr. Barajas, Principal Milby High School
In an interview following a Career Technology staff meeting, we discussed the future of technology at Milby. More specifically, we discussed the change from TAKS testing to End of Course Testing, which is a web based test. Mr. Barajas stated that by the time EOC testing is fully implemented in 2013 there will need to be one to one access for every testing student in the school. This is to be implemented though the use of mobile sets of laptop computers. Because this is a state mandated test, it is really not optional budget arrangements must be made. Currently we have four open access computer labs that number will increase to a minimum of six in the next two years. The main technology concern right now is acquiring, managing, and maintaining an unprecedented number of mobile computers.
Interview 2: Mr. T. Murray, Technology Specialist Milby High School
Mr. Murray is the technological pulse of Milby High School. In my interview with him, we discussed the possibility of implementing individual student log-in accounts not only at Milby but also across the district. Currently there is one student login used for all students at a particular school, students do not have individual accounts that would allow for customization, and file storage. We discussed the possibility of the district allowing student email accounts; this had not been previously adopted district wide. All of the CTE labs were updated in the 2009-2010 school year, so now the focus is on mobile computing devices. Many of the ideas that are coming forth are in response to the change from TAKS, a paper based assessment to EOC, a web based assessment.
My Analysis
There is no question that with the current pace of technology advances and the continual reduction in prices that in the next five years the face of the classroom across the district will change. One thing that is in question is how will this occur in old preexisting buildings and infrastructure? Before we can race forward toward classrooms of the Texas Long Term Plan for Technology, (TF.III.E.1) these questions must be addressed, because a large percentage of Houston Independent school district buildings are well over 50 years old.
Both administrators in their assessment of where technology will be advancing in the next five years discussed mobile technology. Wireless networking laptops, along with webcams and microphones built into computing systems will facilitate a variety of online communication tools. Internet connectivity alone is not enough, technology must be integrated and ready to use when needed.(TF-III.E)
In the future, we will have shed the preexisting idea of one to one computing and will embrace the truth in that I-Phones and I-Pods have nearly the same capabilities as the standard desktop or laptop computer. Instead of being considered a hindrance, this mobile technology will replace the preexisting goals of one to one computing. Cloud computing will dramatically change the restrictions, teachers, students and districts face by serving software and services as needed globally across the district. HISD currently serves its SIS, and attendance and grading application, GradeSpeed in this way. Teachers are able to access several applications from the web which allows us to work from any classroom or home computer with ease. In the future no longer will one classroom miss valuable resources and software that exist on other campuses. Typical cloud computing providers deliver common business applications online which are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers (Scanlon and Wieners, 1999). (TF.III.E.2) During the course there were no conflicts and I have no further questions.
Interview 1: Mr. Barajas, Principal Milby High School
In an interview following a Career Technology staff meeting, we discussed the future of technology at Milby. More specifically, we discussed the change from TAKS testing to End of Course Testing, which is a web based test. Mr. Barajas stated that by the time EOC testing is fully implemented in 2013 there will need to be one to one access for every testing student in the school. This is to be implemented though the use of mobile sets of laptop computers. Because this is a state mandated test, it is really not optional budget arrangements must be made. Currently we have four open access computer labs that number will increase to a minimum of six in the next two years. The main technology concern right now is acquiring, managing, and maintaining an unprecedented number of mobile computers.Interview 2: Mr. T. Murray, Technology Specialist Milby High School
Mr. Murray is the technological pulse of Milby High School. In my interview with him, we discussed the possibility of implementing individual student log-in accounts not only at Milby but also across the district. Currently there is one student login used for all students at a particular school, students do not have individual accounts that would allow for customization, and file storage. We discussed the possibility of the district allowing student email accounts; this had not been previously adopted district wide. All of the CTE labs were updated in the 2009-2010 school year, so now the focus is on mobile computing devices. Many of the ideas that are coming forth are in response to the change from TAKS, a paper based assessment to EOC, a web based assessment.My Analysis
There is no question that with the current pace of technology advances and the continual reduction in prices that in the next five years the face of the classroom across the district will change. One thing that is in question is how will this occur in old preexisting buildings and infrastructure? Before we can race forward toward classrooms of the Texas Long Term Plan for Technology, (TF.III.E.1) these questions must be addressed, because a large percentage of Houston Independent school district buildings are well over 50 years old.
Both administrators in their assessment of where technology will be advancing in the next five years discussed mobile technology. Wireless networking laptops, along with webcams and microphones built into computing systems will facilitate a variety of online communication tools. Internet connectivity alone is not enough, technology must be integrated and ready to use when needed.(TF-III.E)
In the future, we will have shed the preexisting idea of one to one computing and will embrace the truth in that I-Phones and I-Pods have nearly the same capabilities as the standard desktop or laptop computer. Instead of being considered a hindrance, this mobile technology will replace the preexisting goals of one to one computing.
Cloud computing will dramatically change the restrictions, teachers, students and districts face by serving software and services as needed globally across the district. HISD currently serves its SIS, and attendance and grading application, GradeSpeed in this way. Teachers are able to access several applications from the web which allows us to work from any classroom or home computer with ease. In the future no longer will one classroom miss valuable resources and software that exist on other campuses. Typical cloud computing providers deliver common business applications online which are accessed from a web browser, while the software and data are stored on servers (Scanlon and Wieners, 1999). (TF.III.E.2) During the course there were no conflicts and I have no further questions.
References
Scanlon J. and Wieners B. (1998). The Internet Cloud. The Standard. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from http://www.thestandard.com/article/0,1902,5466,00.html
The Schools United. (2008). Welcome To The Schools United. The Schools United. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from http://www.theschoolsunited.com/community/about.php